“Is that why you keep staring at me?” He offers me a tiny smirk, almost imperceptible, but I can tell. Okay, Dom, I see you letting your guard down. Maybe this is what we need. A little bit of playful banter for him to stop acting like a forever grump.
“I said immune, not blind.” I wink at him. “Are you, um, gonna get those things down for me too?”
He shakes his head. “No, my job here is done.”
“Oh, come on. What if I fall?”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ll be right here, holding this ladder.” He taps it, planting his feet firmly on the floor.
“Then why can’t you just do it?”
“Because you’re capable, Riley.” His words hit me right in the chest. How does he even know I needed to hear those words today? Actually,always.
Capable is not an adjective that’s traditionally placed next to my name. And I like it.
He taps the ladder again. “Go ahead, one step at a time. Both hands on the ladder at all times. You can pass me whatever you’re pulling down.”
I do as he says and start climbing. “If I fall from here, I’m blaming it on you.”
“If you fall, it’s because you’re not following directions, like right now. Stop looking at me and keep your hands on the ladder.”
“Yes, sir.” He grunts, and I have to suppress a giggle. Oh, Dom, if you’re going to get all riled up every time I say sir, we’re going to have so much fun. I reach the shelf and start gathering things. None of these will break, so I drop them, and they fall with a loud thud.
“That was not in the plan,” he says.
“Fuck the plan, Dominic. Sometimes, you have to devi— ah!” I slip, three steps down, my hands barely able to hold on, but strong ones hold me in place. By my ass. Oop!
“Sorry!” I yelp. He keeps his hands on my ass, digging his fingertips into my hips and helping me down until my feet are on the floor. I know without even looking at him that he’s wearing his impatient face. At least, that’s what I think it is.
“Don’t scold me. It’s your fault.” I turn to face him, but with the ladder behind me and him helping me down, there’s barely any space between us. I can still feel his hand on my hip, a phantom touch. His breath mixes with mine; mint, tobacco and something sweet, a juxtaposition of flavors, just like he is.
He shakes his head. “You didn’t follow directions.”
I shrug. “You caught me either way. Thanks. This is day three of you saving me now.”
“Let’s hope it’s the last time.” He doesn’t move, even with how stiff his body is. Everything about him says he’s uncomfortable, but he won’t move.
So, I don’t either. I take my time noticing the little things about him now that I’m this close. I’ve never been more intrigued by a person before. I practically count his white eyelashes and seethat his eyes barely have any brown in them. They’re so dark, like a starless night. Wow.
He clears his throat, snapping us—well, me, really—from this comment. “I have to get back.”
“Oh yes, sorry.” I tuck a loose strand behind my ear and lower my gaze. Riley, get a damn grip.
“No need. Can you promise me you won’t get on top of the ladder again?”
“Can’t promise, but I’ll be careful next time.”
He nods. “Okay. I can come back at the end of the day to help you put those back up. Is that enough time?”
“Should be. Thanks.”
He tips his hat and walks out, leaving me breathless and not because of the almost falling. Him being that close sparked all my senses back to life, and I liked it. A lot.
The rest of the day goes by in a flash—not because I’m busy organizing that shelf, but because I did everything else I could and found myself getting lost in boxes and boxes of keepsakes and mementos my parents saved. I can’t believe these all have been sitting here, collecting dust.
